The World According to Glissando

Tag: travel

  • Love You to the Moon and Back

    A Real Life Story by Glenn Hansen

    Dedicated to Sweet Judith, wherever you are in God’s universe.

    CHAPTER 14

    The now consistent warmth of spring allowed for the opening of the exquisite outdoor court yard at Riverview. It was a delightful place for Judy and I to go and spend time on my visits. She loved being outdoors. The texture of nature is embedded in her soul.

    The court yard felt like a very nice, somewhat exclusive outdoor patio. It was big and provided an earthy, connected with nature feel, as it was encompassed by a variety of plants and trees. The round outdoor tables with bright sky blue and lively yellow centre umbrellas offered roomy seating for six. There were maybe eight of them. Other important amenities included a half oval raised area which had smaller tables and I have no doubt once summer was here, it would be utilized for live music and other types of events and activities. You could go for a short walk amongst the trees along a pathway adjacent to the court yard. If you had young kids, they could play in the playground area. There was no shortage of benches, chairs and rocking benches throughout the area. One of Judy’s favourite things was the little waterfall and pond that housed lovely looking Koi fish with their resplendent colours. Finally, there was a small, roofed, but open sided eating area with a very large Napoleon barbecue.  

    The court yard was a very special place at Riverview. I sometimes said to Judy when we were sitting at a patio table, to close her eyes and pretend we were at a high end, ocean side patio restaurant. What a wonderful moment of escapism for both of us together.

    With Judy’s health starting to decline at an accelerated rate, this was the place for us to go now. The pretty park in the front of the healthcare centre was out of reach now given her further weakened status. We would chat, but there was less chat now and more rest. We still would have the occasional “dinner date” inside without the show. It still brought us the enjoyment of chatting over dinner. It was fun, and more that ever I wanted Judy to enjoy her time as much as possible. Her happiness brought me great pleasure, happiness and gratefulness that I have had her in my life no matter how long it was going to be for.

    Judy enjoyed our short excursions along the court yard pathway and we did it many times.

    One of the architectural aspects I enjoyed was the natural stately cedar fencing which enclosed the courtyard and indeed many other outdoor areas around Riverview. This fencing added immensely to the overall natural outdoor feel that abounds throughout the healthcare centre’s grounds.

    It is no accident that this is how the whole complex is designed, this warm earthy feel. It’s to have a peaceful, healing and caring environment for the patients who find themselves here.    

  • Love You to the Moon and Back

    A Real Life Story by Glenn Hansen

    Dedicated to Sweet Judith, wherever you are in God’s universe.

    CHAPTER 6

    On Friday morning, my friend and I went to the hospital to pack up Judy’s belongings. There were assorted clothing, gifts from various people including, of course, her family, and other odds and ends. Oh, and of course, we packed up the cribbage game. One other item that was of real importance to Judy was her Irish bodhran, a type of drum that could possibly predate Christianity in its original form, and certainly had evolved to some prominence by the nineteenth century. The bodrhan seems to have originated in southwest Ireland, although there are possible Scottish roots as well. You can play the drum with your hand or with a drumstick called the cipin or tipper. It’s a popular instrument in folk music.

    At one point we did a performance together at the apartment building where we lived, Judy on her bodrhan and me playing guitar and singing, before a live audience. It was a treasured moment for both of us, although, I had my doubts about ever doing another performance together. Time would tell.   

    We packed up her belongings with precision and expedience. It was not yet determined what time exactly the transfer to the new healthcare facility was going to happen. We collectively decided my friend and I would leave and Judy would call me when the transfer was going to take place and that we would meet her at Riverview. While we were packing up, it was quite evident that Judy’s health was rapidly degrading right before our eyes. For now, there was nothing more my friend and I could do except let Judy rest. We would see here next at the new facility. And with that, we left.

    It was, for me, an early morning. I liked to arise around “nine o’clockish,” 9:30 in Newfoundland. In case you’re wondering, the Newfoundland reference is a gently humourous reference to Newfoundland’s special time zone on the east coast of Canada which is a half hour out of sync with the rest of the Canadian time zones. What you should know about Newfoundland and Labrador is that they are Canadian geographical and cultural treasures. We went for coffee and a bite. And then we waited for the call.

    The call from Judy came at around 2:00 p.m. She was already at Riverview. There was no opportunity to call us before then. Carol and I were on the road in a flash to go over there. I dropped Carol off at the front door of Riverview and parked on the aforementioned side street and then briskly walked to the entrance to meet back up with Carol. From there we quickly located where Judy was and anxiously made our way up to her room. When we saw her, she was looking very depleted and grim. We were then kindly asked if we could leave the room for a few minutes so the staff could get her settled in her room and do an assessment of her condition first hand. We, of course, obliged. What I noticed about the staff was their warmth and graciousness in making their request for us to leave the room. It was almost apologetically and with compassion. They said it would not take too long.

    We went to the ward’s multi-functional common room and waited. When Judy was first admitted to the previous hospital, to my surprise, she listed me as a principal contact. While sitting in the common room, a front desk ward staff member approached me to confirm who I was as she had again listed me as one of the principal contacts, which I confirmed. This struck a nerve in me and a few tears welled up in my eyes. Who was I to be one of the principal contacts anyway? We only met at the end of this past summer. It demonstrated to me though how much our relationship had expanded, the trust we now had in one another. It also registered on a profound level now how serious and dire her health situation had become.   

    After a short while, we were able to go in and see Judy. She was very tired, and we talked briefly. Then we just let her fall asleep and watched over her with great, but still calm concern. After a short while, we departed and headed home. I was very grateful I had Carol with me that day to lend her invaluable support. It had been a tough day for me on many levels.

  • O

    O my. O Canada. Canada’s sovereignty is under threat from the United States, whose North American expansionism desires are coming to the forefront under the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly, and seriously, stated that he wants to make Canada the fifty-first state. He and his cabal are also eyeing Mexico, as well as Greenland and non-North American country Panama. Control the Panama Canal and you control a major component of shipping.

    Canada and the United States have had a long, very friendly and mutually respectful relationship. Unfortunately for Canada, a change in this relationship was not totally unforeseeable, given past world history and the nature of humankind. Coveting something another person or country possesses has provoked invasiveness since the beginning of time, and Canada has much to covet.

    In light of these developments, I have written brand new lyrics, with a sympathetic leaning toward Canada, for their national anthem, O Canada. The lyrics are written in conjunction with the melody of the anthem. Indeed, O Canada.

    O Canada

    Now the fifty-first state

    This cannot be right

    It must be a mistake

    With saddened hearts we see thee fall

    The true north no longer free 

    From far and wide O Canada

    Subjugated from sea to sea

    God why did you let us become Yankees

    O Canada we’ve been unlawfully seized

    O Canada we’ve been unlawfully seized

    Copyright Glenn Hansen 2025

  • Lantern

    I watch the rain as it comes down

    Like the tears within my heart

    I see madness, it’s all around

    Seen it from the very start

    I want to soar up high in my lantern in the sky

    Levitate from far below, find somewhere for my soul

    I want to soar up high in my lantern in the sky

    Maybe there’s a whole new place filled with love, kindness and grace

    We all need hope to fulfill dreams

    Help keep us moving along

    A life flows like a winding stream

    You have courage, so be strong

    I want to soar up high in my lantern in the sky

    Levitate from far below, find somewhere for my soul

    I want to soar up high in my lantern in the sky

    Maybe there’s a whole new place filled with love, kindness and grace

    I watch the rain as it comes down

    Like the tears within my heart

    I see madness, it’s all around

    Seen it from the very start

    I want to soar in my lantern in the sky

    I want to soar in my lantern in the sky